TONGHAM Football Club are in danger of folding after more than 100 years in existence.

For years, Tongham have struggled to find volunteers to help run the club and last Saturday had to postpone their Surrey Intermediate Premier League match at Laleham due to a shortage of players.

“This was a major embarrassment for the club, as well as being costly when claims for expenses and league fines arrive,” said chairman Les Oakley.

Having been at the club for some 35 years and only the third chairman in 50 years, he was particularly upset at this latest setback which was followed by the resignation of first-team manager James Macarthur.

Both the chairman and the secretary, Denis Barber-Kebby, fear that if people don’t step forward to help out, the club could indeed fold.

“I’m disappointed and worried that a club with Tongham’s history could reach this stage,” added the secretary. “Like other local clubs, we would have to shut up shop after being so long in existence.”

He said he had spent many happy years playing and helping to run the club. “But unless we have more help from non-playing volunteers – former players perhaps – I can see little alternative than to disband the club.”

Les Oakley and Denis Barber-Kebby appeal to anyone prepared to be involved with the club to contact them urgently so that a future can be decided and that Tongham FC can go forward into next season. The secretary can be contacted by email at [email protected]